Principle 7: Management Planning

The Organization* shall have a management plan* consistent with its policies and objectives* and proportionate to scale, intensity and risks* of its management activities. The management plan shall be implemented and kept up to date based on monitoring information in order to promote adaptive management*. The associated planning and procedural documentation shall be sufficient to guide staff, inform affected stakeholders* and interested stakeholders* and to justify management decisions.

Criterion 7.1

The Organization* shall, proportionate to scale, intensity and risk* of its management activities, set policies (visions and values) and objectives* for management, which are environmentally sound, socially beneficial and economically viable. Summaries of these policies and objectives* shall be incorporated into the management plan*, and publicized. (C7.1 V4)

Indicator 7.1.1

Policies (vision and values) that contribute to meeting the requirements of this standard are defined.

Verifiers 7.1.1

a. Management plan of the organization
b. Forest management plan (Chpt. on Social, ecologic and economic objectives)
c. Internal procedures

Indicator 7.1.2

Specific, operational management objectives* that address the requirements of this standard are defined.

Verifiers 7.1.2

a. Forest management plan (Chpt. Plans and evidences)
b. Management plan of the organization

Indicator 7.1.3

Summaries of the defined policies and management objectives* are included in the management plan* and publicized.

Criterion 7.2

The management plan* shall describe the natural resources that exist in the Management Unit* and explain how the plan will meet the FSC certification requirements. The management plan* shall cover forest management planning and social management planning proportionate to scale*, intensity* and risk* of the planned activities. (C7.1 V4)

Indicator 7.2.1

The management plan* includes management actions, procedures, strategies and measures to achieve the management objectives.

Verifiers 7.2.1

a. Management plan of the organization

Indicator 7.2.2

The management plan* addresses the elements listed in Annex E, and is implemented.

Verifiers 7.2.2

a. Management plan of the organization
b. Forest management plan

Criterion 7.3

The management plan* shall include verifiable targets by which progress towards each of the prescribed management objectives* can be assessed. (New)

Indicator 7.3.1

Verifiable targets, and the frequency that they are assessed, are established for monitoring the progress towards each management objective*.

Criterion 7.4

The Organization* shall update and revise periodically the management planning and procedural documentation to incorporate the results of monitoring and evaluation, stakeholder engagement* or new scientific and technical information, as well as to respond to changing environmental, social and economic circumstances. (C7.2 V4)

Indicator 7.4.1

The management plan* is revised and updated periodically consistent with Annex F to incorporate:
1. Monitoring results, including results of certification audits
2. Evaluation results
3. Stakeholder engagement* results
4. New scientific and technical information
5. Changing environmental, social, or economic circumstances

Criterion 7.5

The Organization* shall make publicly available* a summary of the management plan* free of charge. Excluding confidential information, other relevant components of the management plan* shall be made available to affected stakeholders* on request, and at cost of reproduction and handling. (C7.4 V4)

Indicator 7.5.1

A summary of the management plan* in a format comprehensible to stakeholders including maps and excluding confidential information* is made publicly available* at no cost.

Verifiers 7.5.1

a. Management plan of the organization available to the general public
b. Summary of the management plan of the organization available to the general public

Indicator 7.5.2

Relevant components of the management plan*, excluding confidential information, is are available to affected stakeholders* on request at the actual costs of reproduction and handling.

Verifiers 7.5.2

a. Interview with manager
b. Records
c. Stakeholder consultations

Criterion 7.6

The Organization* shall, proportionate to scale, intensity and risk* of management activities, proactively and transparently engage affected stakeholders* in its management planning and monitoring processes, and shall engage interested stakeholders* on request. (C4.4 V4)

Indicator 7.6.1

Culturally appropriate* engagement* is used to ensure that affected stakeholders* are proactively and transparently engaged in the following processes:

Verifiers 7.6.1

a. Procedures (stakeholder analysis)
b. Records (meeting reports, register of claims, proof of information process)
c. Interviews

1. Dispute resolution processes (Criterion* 1.6, Criterion* 2.6, Criterion* 4.6)

a. Procedures
b. Records (meeting reports, register of claims)
c. Interviews

2. Definition of Living wages* (Criterion* 2.4)

a. Individual and collective contract of employment
b. Legal aspects

3. Identification of rights (Criterion* 3.1, Criterion* 4.1), sites (Criterion* 3.5, Criterion* 4.7) and impacts (Criterion* 4.5)

a. Impact assessment
b. Evidence on stakeholder consultation
c. Interviews

4. Local communities’* socio-economic development activities (Criterion* 4.4)

a. Socio-economic analysis (study)

5. High Conservation Value* assessment, management and monitoring (Criterion* 9.1, Criterion* 9.2, Criterion* 9.4)

a. HCVF analysis (study)
b. Monitoring Plan for HCVF
c. Procedures

Indicator 7.6.2

Culturally appropriate* engagement* is used to:

1. Determine appropriate representatives and contact points (including where appropriate, local institutions, organizations and authorities)

Verifiers 7.6.2

a. Analysis and evidence on stakeholders

2. Determine mutually agreed, communication channels , allowing for information to flow in both directions

a. Internal Procedures

3. Ensure all actors (women, youth, elderly, and minorities) are represented and engaged with equitably

a. Analysis and evidence on stakeholders
b. Proof of consultations

4. Ensure all meetings, all points discussed and all agreements reached are recorded

a. Records (meeting minutes, reports)

5. Ensure the content of meeting records is approved

a. Evidence (written report) of meeting record approval

6. Ensure the results of all culturally appropriate* engagement* activities are shared with those involved

Indicator 7.6.3

Affected stakeholders* are provided with an opportunity for culturally appropriate* engagement* in monitoring and planning processes of management activities that affect their interests.

Verifiers 7.6.3

a. Evidence of affected stakeholder notification process

Indicator 7.6.4

On request, interested stakeholders* are, provided with an opportunity for engagement* in monitoring and planning processes of management activities that affect their interests.

Verifiers 7.6.4

a. Evidence of interested stakeholder notification process